The first phase of a major new Cambridge community could include 500 new homes and a school.

The Wing development, on land situated to the north of Newmarket Road near the Park & Ride, is a joint venture between land-owner Marshall and developer Hill. It has outline planning consent for 1,300 new homes.

Teresa Borsuk, from architects Pollard Thomas Edwards, said the aim was to make Wing a legacy project that will be an urban village, not a dormitory or a housing estate.

She said: “The fact is this is almost self-sustaining. The new Wing development has a local centre, which will have community facilities, and a school. It’s a place where you can effectively live, work and play as well as very much be a part of Cambridge.”

Phase one of the development is the area closest to Newmarket Road, and subsequent phases would see the building work expand to the north.

Developer Hill said the shape of the first 500 homes has changed since the initial master plan was approved, and that the changes were included to “make it a nice environment to live in” while construction on the next phases is under way.

Further changes could see Kingsley Woods, which runs along the northern edge of the development, incorporated into the site. The developer has plans to improve this area, which will also enhance Wing.